Broadcom Compatible 100G QSFP28 Optical Transceivers
Product Overview
The Apex 100G QSFP28 range on this page is built for Broadcom based switch platforms and network adapters whose firmware asks for Broadcom coded optics. These are third party modules to the QSFP28 MSA, not products of Broadcom and not affiliated with Broadcom.
The economics are straightforward. A live port has to keep working for years, while the price of a factory module and the lead time for a new one can turn one failed optic into an expensive event. A coded module of the same grade brings the port back up at a fraction of the cost, which is why operators keep a small coded spare stock beside the live spares.
The part that decides whether the link comes up is the EEPROM image, not the optics. Written for the named platform, it makes the host accept the module and report the expected values through DDM. Tell us the platform, the firmware version and the incumbent part number, and the coding is confirmed before the order is released.
Key Features
- 100G QSFP28 range covering SR4, CWDM4, PSM4, DR, FR, LR4 grades
- EEPROM coded for the platform and the part number you name
- Third party product, not manufactured by or affiliated with Broadcom
- Same grade and reach class as the factory part at a lower cost per port
- Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM) with live optical, temperature and voltage readings
- Tested for optical power and error rate, with a test report supplied
- Common grades held in stock for same-day quoting
- RoHS compliant, supplied with a three year warranty
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Part Number | APX-QSFP28-100G-xx (grade dependent) |
| Manufacturer | Apex |
| Product Type | Third party compatible module, QSFP28 MSA |
| Platform Compatibility | Broadcom based switch platforms and network adapters |
| Data Rate | 103.1Gbps (4 x 25.78Gbps) |
| Data Rate | 103.1Gbps (4 x 25.78Gbps) |
| Form Factor | QSFP28, hot pluggable |
| Coding | Written to order for the named platform |
| DDM / DOM | Supported |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3V |
| Compliance | QSFP28 MSA, RoHS |
| Temperature | 0 to 70C commercial, -40 to 85C industrial on request |
Ordering Options by Grade
The 100G QSFP28 grades are listed below as plain text so they can be copied into an RFQ or a spreadsheet. Each grade is ordered with the coding for the platform you name.
| Grade | Wavelength | Media | Reach class | Interface |
|---|
| SR4 | 850nm | Multimode | 100m | MPO-12 |
| CWDM4 | 1271 to 1331nm | Single mode | 2km | LC duplex |
| PSM4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 500m | MPO-12 |
| DR | 1310nm | Single mode | 500m | MPO-12 |
| FR | 1310nm | Single mode | 2km | LC duplex |
| LR4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 10km | LC duplex |
| ER4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 40km | LC duplex |
| ZR4 | 1310nm | Single mode | 80km | LC duplex |
Applications
White Box and Disaggregated Switches
Networks built on Broadcom based switch platforms, where the optics are bought separately from the hardware and the coding is the part that decides link up.
100G Spine Uplinks
100G links from the leaf tier into the spine on CWDM4, FR and LR4 grades over duplex single mode.
100G to 4x25G Breakout
Breakout from a 100G port into four 25G server links, on the same coded module family.
Compatibility and Coding
Coding is what makes a compatible module work in a Broadcom port. The module carries an EEPROM image written for the host, so the platform accepts it, reports its values through DDM and links at the expected rate and reach. Give us the platform and the part number you are replacing, and we confirm the coding, the grade and the compatibility before the order is released.
Apex supplies these modules as a third party source. The products are not manufactured by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Broadcom, and no Broadcom warranty or support applies to them. Where a platform enforces vendor locking beyond the EEPROM image, we say so before the order rather than after.
Upgrade and Interoperability Notes
Selection usually comes down to the fibre you already own. Multimode trays mean an SR class, single mode trays mean the duplex or parallel single mode classes, and the reach class should be the next one above the longest span in the plan.
Keep the coding consistent across the installed base and the spare shelf. Mixing codings inside one link is the most common cause of a port that reports green optics and still will not come up.
Tell us the platform, the firmware version and the incumbent part number and the coding is confirmed before the order is released. If the platform blocks third party modules, you hear it before the shipment, not after. Related reading: Optical Module Coding and Compatibility Guide.
Related Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use standard MSA optics in a Broadcom based switch?
Often yes, because many Broadcom based platforms do not vendor lock the port. Where the firmware does check, we write the coding to match; send the platform and we confirm which case applies.
Which 100G grade for a 2km campus link?
CWDM4 and FR both cover 2km on duplex single mode. SR4 is cheaper but only covers 100m on multimode, so it is not a substitute for a 2km run.
Are these modules the same as the ones on the Broadcom datasheet?
No. These are third party modules built to the QSFP28 MSA and coded for platforms that request Broadcom optics. They are not manufactured by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Broadcom.
What lead time should I expect?
SR4, CWDM4, LR4 and ER4 are held in stock and quoted the same day. Uncommon grades and breakout assemblies are built to order with a stated lead time on the quote.
Why Choose Apex
- Optical supply from 1.25G to 1.6T, including compatible and coded ranges for the main switch platforms.
- Coding confirmed against the platform and the part number before the order is released.
- Every module tested for optical power and error rate, with a test report supplied.
- Backed by a three year warranty and technical support before and after the sale.
